UP THE RIVER DOWN THE RIVER

We had a real treat last Sunday morning

Our neighbours/friends

Ray and Diana

had their 'big' boat here for the weekend

So............

Three sets of neighbours jumped in the boat and headed to the Sarnia Marina for breakfast

A nice sunny day

Why is it that people like to stand in a boat?

Leaving Stag Island behind

A 'Saltie' loading up

Sarnia's Chemical Valley

Heading towards Sarnia Bay

You can see the Bluewater bridges

Sarnia Ontario on the right

Port Huron Michigan on the left

This is the apartment building where my Mom lived once upon a time

She had a magnificent view from the 11th floor

Here is the Duc

She travels up and down the St. Clair River every day during the summer months

Goes by our cottage

In the background is Our Lady of Mercy Church

Our church when we lived in Sarnia

Coming out of the bay is a 'starter boat'

She would be used during the boat races that took place on the river this past weekend

Making our way into the Marina

Must say....

Good food

Good company

Good conversation

Those silver threads are blowing in the breeze

We are now on our way to the mouth of the river

and

Into Lake Huron

Going by Purdy's Fisheries

Spanning the Port Huron shoreline

Our Canadian police 

Sarnia and Port Huron each fly the Canadian and American flags

Didn't go very far out into the lake as it was quite windy with rolling waves

Will soon be going down river

Sarnia's Casino

When we went past this little beach area I said to Joe

I bet this beach is a well kept secret

You can see a couple sitting on the beach with their kayak near by

Now the boat is heading towards Bridgeview Marina

This is quite the little fishing boat???????

Check out the anchor chain

Many years ago I was sitting by the front window of the cottage when I heard this

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

I looked up and right before my eyes was a Saltie coming right towards the cottage

The ship had lost power and she was heading in to shore

Luckily she went aground

For a minute there I thought.................!!

This Mamma goose took off and left her young ones behind

When we turned the boat around the young geese had joined her on shore

Look at the width of this cruiser

There are two Canada Steamship freighters tied up

Canadian Coast Guard

We're coming into Corunna

Passing the Shell Dock

When 'slow' freighters go by the cottage we know they are heading to the Shell Dock to fill up

Stag Island

 Pier 90

This is where we 'park' our boat when we go to the mainland

Ferry Dock Hill

The island ferry picking up islanders

Beaautiful homes along the water

In 1944 my Grandfather and Father built a log cabin on the property behind the white home

A few years later they moved the cabin down the river road to 601 St. Clair Parkway

I don't think it was called The Parkway way back then

It sat among the tress in the middle of this photo

My Dad died in 1981

The cabin which we lovingly called 

'The Shack'

was sold

The new owners lived in the shack for a time then tore it down

They left the chimney 

It was sad to go by in the boat and see it standing there

What a beauty

Such class from days gone by

Thought this looked like a neat little spot to spend time down by the river

We first spotted the mast on this sailboat

It is huge

I will get a better view of it when it sails by the cottage

Weather is changing

Heading home

Almost home

Home sweet home

I don't think we will be sitting out today

Those grey clouds are rolling in

As it turns out this sailboat is a scientific research boat

Joe read about it on the internet

However

We cannot remember the name of the boat to look up the information again!

Ah......the mind is a wonderful thing!!

Ray taking care of his boat

Ah........

Gwendolyn came out to greet us

She decided to give her back a scratch!!

She's soooo funny

KENWICK ON THE LAKE PARK

Our friends Ken and Devonna have often walked and biked past Kenwick on the Lake Park which is on Old Lakeshore Road Bright's Grove
They wondered how it could be so ignored and neglected with such an interesting history 
During the 1940s and 50s people danced under the stars at Kenwick on the Lake to bands such as
Guy Lombardo

A small committee was formed with interested volunteers 
 They approached the City of Sarnia to see if they could make something happen

IT WAS A GO

The committee raised $100,000.00 to put towards the project

TVO Playground Makeover Show called 'Givers' received 200 requests from Ontario cities to be one of ten park makeovers in the summer of 2013
Sarnia was one of the cities chosen for this project

You will see in the photos where the children are being videoed 

Students from Bright's Grove School along with students from St. Michael's were chosen to take part in the project

They are getting intructions from one of the directors from TVO

Checking out to see how it is done!

OK......got it!

Lambton College Building Trade students with their mentor

Three summer students were willing to leave their jobs for three days

They were hard working girls!!!!!!!!!

This is the beginning of a 3 day event

I think we might be getting a 'pep talk'

These boys are keen and eager

We're ready!!!!!!

Shovels in hand

Grass was removed from the play area and replaced with wood chips

A lot of digging!!!!!

A lesson in learning the controls

 The Lambton College students are hard at work

Good job boys

Community volunteers came out to help wherever

 they were needed

One happy lady

She even had dirt on her face

A true gardener

The 'floor' plan for the Gazebo

Checking out the plans

Even carpenter Joe was there

 Local 1089 Labor Union volunteers were at the park 

for almost 2 weeks

The gal on the right was very

'SHEEK'

When she picked up her t-shirt she asked for a pair of sissors

My ears picked up!!

My eyes picked up!

Off came the bottom of the shirt

Off came the sleeves

On went a tied belt

This is something my 16 year old granddaughter would do!

And.......

Let me tell you 

Oh how she worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done lady in gold

Many hands 

Carpenters at work

Future carpenters

Members of the Kiwanis club cooked hot dogs and burgers

for over 100 volunteers

Devonna was in charge of food services for the three day project

Here we have one of the Kiwanis 'cooks' with her two boys who helped out as well

This just caught my eye

FUNNY

A hard hat and carpenter's belt mades a good face!

You can tell it is lunch time!

Oh boy

Lots and lots and lots of water was handed out

Kern Water Systems supplied the water and ice

A firefighter

A volunteer

and

The leader of the pack

We had some hard working students

The students from the two schools were shown how to 

do different jobs

Local 1089 fellows working on the base for the Gazebo

Getting ready for the cement

Here comes the cement

I was impressed as I watched how it all works

The boys sure knew their job!

Ken's priority was to keep the volunteers organized and assigned various tasks throughtout the 3 day park venture

The end of a good day

The cement floor took on a pebble effect once the top cement/sand was washed off

Video about to roll

A welding lesson

This is a cement wall!!!

The other side of the wall is to be used as a backdrop for hitting balls up against the wall

This side of the wall will be used as a backdrop for a stage

Future theatre plays may happen here!

Many hours

and

Many  hands

are being put into building the Gazebo

Good job

You see the fellow with his hand up?

He is waving at me!

It is not a friendly wave

He is telling me to get out of the way

He did it more than once!!!!!!!!!

These folks are all TVO employees

New play equipment being installed

Ha..........

One of the workers trying out the slide

Water boy

The sectretary of  Kiwanis club and her grandson

Even the trash cans were getting a fresh coat of paint

Besides being the photo lady I cut up veggies and fruit and delivered 'snacks' mid morning and mid afternoon

Putting in time in-between 'takes'

You are seeing several Gazebo photos

However

I want you to see their progess

Painting the key boards white

This is Joe's project

Had a good team working with him

Good work Mr. McPhail!

Back and forth all day long

Buckets and buckets of wood chips

Measure Measure Measure

Ha......do you notice the gal?

YES!!!

TVO truck

A little family came one afternoon

They donned hard hats and t-shirts

They were ready to work!

I like their boots!

A music 'volunteer' is teaching the children a song that will be sung at the opening ceremonies on Thursday

Devonna and her granddaughter on a water run

The musical board walk was taking shape

Doug trying out the xylophone

Painters!!!!!

Another painter

Doug Kennedy

Son of Jack and Gwen Kennedy who originally started

Kenwick on the Lake

Bright's Grove

The local outdoor dance pavilion

Waiting

Good job girl!!!!!!!!!!

Making their 'ribbon'

They were hanging little bells at the top of the swing 

Had quite the time getting the bell in the right spot

Concentrating on his job

Remember the cement wall?

Local 1089 Labor Union lads 

Putting cement in for the ball court

There are those boots again

The ceremonies are about to begin

We have a Canadian supporter

Our Sarnia mayor Mike Bradley is on board for

 the opening ceremonies

The children did a great job with their song

Fun in the sun

Welcome to Kenwick on the Lake

Magnificent

As a fundraiser several benches have been purchased overlooking Lake Huron

This gentleman told Ken it is his favourite place to sit with his dog

JOB WELL DONE EVERYONE